Pirates Top 20 Prospects

[Stotle]

I'm a little burnt out on all the Teix stuff, and there isn't much going on in Orioles land. I've wrapped-up my work for the holidays, so I'm turning back to writing. Accordingly, I finished the Pirates Top 20 Prospects list and thought I'd see if anyone was interested in discussing. I won't clog the site with the whole cut and paste, but here is the list:

PIT Top 20 Prospects

1. Pedro Alvarez (A-)

2. Andrew McCutchen (B+)

3. Jarek Cunningham (B)

4. Neil Walker (B)

5. Jose Tabata (B-)

6. Jordy Mercer (B-)

7. Robbie Grossman (B-)

8. Quinton Miller (B-)

9. Wes Freeman (C+)

10. Chase D’Arnaud (C+)

11. Shelby Ford (C+)

12. Bryan Morris (C+)

13. Jimmy Barthmaier (C+)

14. Daniel Moskos (C+)

15. Daniel McCutchen (C+)

16. Austin McClune (C+)

17. Brad Lincoln (C+)

18. Brian Bixler (C+)

19. Justin Wilson (C+)

20. Romulo Sanchez ©

There were enough questions about Alvarez's conditioning in instructional league to prevent me from giving him the "A" right now, but I fully expect him to be a Top 10, and likely Top 5 prospect in all of baseball by next season. I think PIT has done a reasonable job starting to rebuild the farm system. Not sure what the plans will be with so many 3B in the mix, but it should be an interesting group to watch.

[PaulBako]

I'm a little burnt out on all the Teix stuff, and there isn't much going on in Orioles land. I've wrapped-up my work for the holidays, so I'm turning back to writing. Accordingly, I finished the Pirates Top 20 Prospects list and thought I'd see if anyone was interested in discussing. I won't clog the site with the whole cut and paste, but here is the list:

PIT Top 20 Prospects

1. Pedro Alvarez (A-)

2. Andrew McCutchen (B+)

3. Jarek Cunningham (B)

4. Neil Walker (B)

5. Jose Tabata (B-)

6. Jordy Mercer (B-)

7. Robbie Grossman (B-)

8. Quinton Miller (B-)

9. Wes Freeman (C+)

10. Chase D’Arnaud (C+)

11. Shelby Ford (C+)

12. Bryan Morris (C+)

13. Jimmy Barthmaier (C+)

14. Daniel Moskos (C+)

15. Daniel McCutchen (C+)

16. Austin McClune (C+)

17. Brad Lincoln (C+)

18. Brian Bixler (C+)

19. Justin Wilson (C+)

20. Romulo Sanchez ©

There were enough questions about Alvarez's conditioning in instructional league to prevent me from giving him the "A" right now, but I fully expect him to be a Top 10, and likely Top 5 prospect in all of baseball by next season. I think PIT has done a reasonable job starting to rebuild the farm system. Not sure what the plans will be with so many 3B in the mix, but it should be an interesting group to watch.

Hey Stole, do you know about other teams prospects? I composed a top 50 myself.

1.David Price

2.Matt Wieters

3.Jason Heyward

4.Travis Snider

5.Trevor Cahill

6.Cameron Maybin

7.Colby Rasmus

8.Madison Bumgarner

9.Rick Porcello

10.Neftali Feliz

11.Dexter Fowler

12.Mike Moustakas

13.Tim Alderson

14.Tommy Hanson

15.Chris Tillman

16.Matt Laporta

17.Andrew McCutchen

18.Lars Anderson

19.Jhoulys Chacin

20.Pedro Alvarez

21.Derek Holland

22.Elvis Andrus

23.Eric Hosmer

24.Brian Matusz

25.Jarrod Parker

26.Justin Smoak

27.Mike Stanton

28.Tim Beckham

29.Buster Posey

30.Fernando Martinez

31.Brett Anderson

32.Angel Villonia

33.Logan Morrison

34.Wade Davis

35.Jake Arrieta

36.Josh Vitters

37.James McDonald

38.Gordon Beckham

39.Jeff Samardzija

40.Freddie Freeman

41.Phillippe Aumont

42.Brett Cecil

43.Chris Carter

44.Adrian Cardenas

45.Wilmer Flores

46.Jason Donald

47.Carlos Santana

48.Carlos Triunfel

49.Matt Dominguez

50.Ben Revere

[Stotle]

Hey Stole, do you know about other teams prospects? I composed a top 50 myself.

1.David Price

2.Matt Wieters

3.Jason Heyward

4.Travis Snider

5.Trevor Cahill

6.Cameron Maybin

7.Colby Rasmus

8.Madison Bumgarner

9.Rick Porcello

10.Neftali Feliz

11.Dexter Fowler

12.Mike Moustakas

13.Tim Alderson

14.Tommy Hanson

15.Chris Tillman

16.Matt Laporta

17.Andrew McCutchen

18.Lars Anderson

19.Jhoulys Chacin

20.Pedro Alvarez

21.Derek Holland

22.Elvis Andrus

23.Eric Hosmer

24.Brian Matusz

25.Jarrod Parker

26.Justin Smoak

27.Mike Stanton

28.Tim Beckham

29.Buster Posey

30.Fernando Martinez

31.Brett Anderson

32.Angel Villonia

33.Logan Morrison

34.Wade Davis

35.Jake Arrieta

36.Josh Vitters

37.James McDonald

38.Gordon Beckham

39.Jeff Samardzija

40.Freddie Freeman

41.Phillippe Aumont

42.Brett Cecil

43.Chris Carter

44.Adrian Cardenas

45.Wilmer Flores

46.Jason Donald

47.Carlos Santana

48.Carlos Triunfel

49.Matt Dominguez

50.Ben Revere

I do. I'm working through Top 20s for each organization, as well as a Top 100 overall and two "All-American"-type lists. I'll be happy to compare our Top 50s once mine is done. Off the bat, I'd say Santana looks a little low, Samardzja a little high. Anderson very low -- I think he'll likely be in my 13-19 range. Alvarez will likely be a Top 10 for me. Holland also in the 13-19 range, I imagine. Beckham a little higher. No Teagarden?

Those are just guesses. As I said, I haven't lined everyone up yet.

[PaulBako]

I do. I'm working through Top 20s for each organization, as well as a Top 100 overall and two "All-American"-type lists. I'll be happy to compare our Top 50s once mine is done. Off the bat, I'd say Santana looks a little low, Samardzja a little high. Anderson very low -- I think he'll likely be in my 13-19 range. Alvarez will likely be a Top 10 for me. Holland also in the 13-19 range, I imagine. Beckham a little higher. No Teagarden?

Those are just guesses. As I said, I haven't lined everyone up yet.

I think you are right about Santana and Samardzja. I should switch those two. The reason I didn't put Alvarez in the top 10 is because that I don't like to put new draftees in the top 10, as they have not been in the minors that long.

[sakata_catching]

Some interesting and promising stuff in this article about McCutcheon and Lincoln — but it's mostly about Pedro Alvarez showing up fat to mini-camp.

Between this and the d*ck-move holdout he and Boras pulled back in September, he's alienated a lot of fans before he's even taken an official at bat for the franchise.

[Camden_yardbird]

Looks like a solid list but I think it will be completely different by the end of this season. They signed a ton of their draftees and some did well at the end of the year and some did not. By the end of this year it may all look completely different.

I can't argue with most of what you said.

I would not have rated Walker that high, his defense is not great and I have yet to consistency from his bat.

I like tabata more but his year last year doesnt warrant anything more than what you gave him.

I do think McCutchen is a solid A- though. There is something remarkably intangible about his baseball skills.

I also think romulo could be a very solid player in the majors, hes just been pushed too quickly.